Why is my Miniature Schnauzer puppy causing allergies? Aren't they hypoallergenic?

It is unlikely to be a genetic mutation. However, shedding can have medical causes such as mites, ringworm, auto-immune disease, stress, hormonal or nutritional causes. Sam is a bit old, but this could also be related to transition from puppy coat to adult coat. Just to be safe, I recommend seeing your vet. Best of luck to you and Sam!

While no dogs are completely hypoallergenic there are some that have less dander than others. The most common of these breeds include the poodle, the Bichon Frise, and the Maltese. I have attached a link to a list of dogs considered hypoallergenic here: http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/hypoallergenic-dogs/ for your review.

Labrador Retrievers are not "hypoallergenic," because they do shed their coats seasonally. Crossing Labrador Retrievers with Poodles, creating the "Labradoodle" hybrid, seems to create a Labrador-type dog that doesn't shed, or doesn't shed much, and this is one of the factors that has led to the popularity of this crossbreed. To learn more about Labs, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/labrador-retriever

It's really difficult to know which breeds your kids will be allergic to. I find the small breed dogs to generally not cause allergies as much as the larger breed dogs, so it's good that you are in the market for a small breed dog. The dogs that I find to be especially itchy are pit bulls, shar peis and bulldogs. The only way you will know for sure is if the new dog spends about a week in the house. If a week goes by and your kids are not showing signs of allergies, then you can be rather sure that the new dog will not cause allergies. I definitely recommend adopting rather than buying one from a store or breeder. Shelters will often allow you to test them out before committing to adopting them and usually have plenty of small breed dogs available. I hope that helps and all goes well with your new dog search.

Chihuahuas do shed like other dogs, however there are a few things you can do to help reduce allergens to your child. Brushing Silly daily in a room that the hair can easily be swept up can help reduce shedding and release of dander. Using a pet wipe or baby wipe when Silly comes in from outside can also help reduce allergens such as pollen and dander stuck to her fur and keep them from spreading. Using an in-home purifier and allergy meds with your child may also help reduce reactions to any fur or dander in the house.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Sam may have other breeds in him that shed if he is a mix. I recommend Krillex Shed Free Chews, which can be found online quite easily. I would try this for at least 3 months and see if this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further. Please take the time to mark this question as helpful or not as it helps us to improve on the quality of our answers to other pet owners. Thank you kindly!

Wow, what a cute dog! If you brush him daily to remove the dead fur and vacuum often there should be less shedding and fur in the house. You may also want to keep him off the furniture and have him spend time outside so there is less fur around. Also wiping him down daily with a damp cloth will reduce the dander which contributes to the allergic reactions. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Michu.